Frack Off!

Hydraulic fracturing, also know as ‘fracking’ is one of the latest developments in unsustainable extreme energy exploration.The name sounds like something out of a sci-fi, the rest is some sort of horror film what with flammable tap water, toxic & radioactive drinking water, earthquakes, and related neurological and physical illnesses.What is fracking?Hydraulic fracturing is the process of drilling a deep hole into shale rocks that contain natural gas, and then at a very high pressure pumping huge amounts of water, chemicals and sand into that hole until the shale rock is cracked and the gas can escape. The gas is captured in a well and then brought to the surface and piped off.Why is it a problem?The list is long, and in true fossil fuel industry style it negatively impacts climate change, social justice, and the health of people and our planet.Climate change

Shale Gas has been pushed out as a green alternative to coal and oil as (according to the gas industry report) the emissions released at burning are half that of coal fired power stations (the author of the report abandoned it as it was biased). These findings do not take into account the full GHG footprint such as the methane emissions from venting and leakage and (gas) losses through transport, storage and distribution.

It has been found that the methane emissions are 30% higher than that of conventional gas and that the GHG footprint of shale gas is 50% greater than for oil. It has also been found that generating electricity from shale gas produces as much and potentially more CO2 than coal fired power. ()

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas; its global warming potential is much higher than carbon dioxide, particularly in the first few decades after emission into the atmosphere.

Therefore if shale gas is being used as a fuel to reduce global warming, there is simply no logic and no point in continuing with this process. It simply does not mitigate climate change.

Health of people & planetWater – one of those commodities we take for granted.

Once the well has been drilled, millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are injected under high pressure into the well.

The water-chemical cocktail consists of a lubricant, hydrochloric acid, and a biocide (these are the chemicals we know about)

The chemicals in the fracking fluid react with the rocks and cause leaching of arsenic and radioactive materials. Which then most likely contaminate the drinking supply and water used for irrigation. This has huge implications on food production and supply.

Evidence suggests that methane contamination of drinking water is associated with shale gas extraction, in active gas-extraction areas (one or more gas wells within 1 km), average and maximum methane concentrations in drinking-water wells increased with proximity to the nearest gas well and were a potential explosion hazard There have also been truly shocking cases in the US of residents living close to gas wells being able to set their tap water on fire!

EarthquakesAs if that wasn’t enough, studies have linked shale gas extraction to local earthquakes.

Two earthquakes have already occurred in Lancashire and earthquake measuring equipment close to the site shows that the earthquakes were close to the well site and at a shallow depth.

The British Geological Society say that it is likely that the two are related and that it is well established that drilling like this can trigger small earthquakes

The situation in Somerset

In Somerset four PEDL licenses have already been granted. Towns they cover include:

This area also includes a large number of villages, farms and water catchments for several areas, including the city of Bristol and water for areas in the Mendip such as Glastonbury & Street. The Mendips is also an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The World Heritage Site of Bath’s Hot Springs would be affected, putting at risk one of the West’s most popular destinations and landmarks.

The next series of PEDL licenses due to be sold by the Government cover the whole of Somerset as well as Bristol and other parts of the South West.